They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 2: Did she choose to die for her husband or was she murdered?
Bai then smiled at the village head's wife and said, "Sister-in-law Liang, it's fine with me and you here. Why don't you go back and do your work?"

The village head's wife waved her hand, her smile half-smile: "No rush, Minghai hasn't invited Doctor Jiang yet. When Doctor Jiang arrives, he'll need to pay for the consultation and medicine. If I don't pay in advance, how will Xu Shi have the strength to pay?"

Otherwise? Do you, the Bai family or the Zhang family, want to pay for it out of your own pocket?
Bai felt a little embarrassed and secretly resented her: What a meddlesome woman!

Aunt Zhu quickly brought in the egg drop soup. "I've cooled it down. It's just the right temperature to drink. Come on, Zhichun, drink it quickly."

Aunt Zhu'er and the village head's wife helped her sit up, one holding a bowl and the other feeding her. Zhang and Bai couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Zhang was happy to have some peace and quiet, while Bai was scheming and narrow-minded. She must have been thinking about something else, and her face turned somewhat gloomy.

Xu Zhichun was very hungry, dizzy from blood loss, and his hands and feet were trembling violently. He didn't refuse, thanked her, and drank it down in big gulps.

After finishing a large bowl of thick egg drop soup, I finally felt my limbs warm up and my head wasn't so dizzy anymore.

Seeing that she looked better, the village head's wife and Aunt Zhu'er were also very happy.

Aunt Zhu laughed and said, "Sister Liang is so knowledgeable. Look at Zhichun, she looks much better."

Liang Minghai finally managed to invite Doctor Jiang. The village head, Uncle Liang, Uncle Liang II, and other family members were still there. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they hurriedly invited Doctor Jiang to Xu Zhichun's bedside.

Dr. Jiang examined Xu Zhichun and said it was due to excessive blood loss. He advised her to apply medicine to the wounds on her head and arms for a few days, eat some good food, and rest for a while.

On the way, he heard Liang Minghai tell him why Xu Zhichun was injured. He admired Liang Minghai and said that the medical expenses were reduced by more than half. Only the ointment for external application was not something he picked himself in the mountains, but something he bought from a clinic in the county town. He only paid for that, forty coins.

The two families of the eldest and second uncles were so distressed by the money that their faces twitched. They only breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the village head's wife take out money to cover the cost.

Thankfully, they didn't have to pay for it in advance.

Aunt Zhu took the medicine back and brewed it for Xu Zhichun. With nothing else to do, everyone dispersed.

Before leaving, Dr. Jiang hesitated for a moment and advised Xu Zhichun: "My niece-in-law is still young. It's better for her to be alive than dead. Don't do anything foolish in the future."

The village head's wife also said, "Yes, if you have any difficulties, just tell us. Don't do anything foolish."

Xu Zhichun nodded and said, "I won't. I will pull myself together and raise Mingxuan well. That's the only way I can live up to Minglang's expectations."

Say nice things and show your attitude; after all, there's still a long way to go.

The village head's wife laughed: "Yes, yes, that's exactly what you're thinking!"

The two families of my eldest and second uncles also smiled, saying, "That's good, that's good."

Doctor Jiang nodded and casually reminded her, "By the way, although my niece-in-law has survived, her health won't be so easy to recover, especially with the excessive blood loss. She's prone to dizziness when exposed to wind. In the future, when you go up the mountain to work, remember not to stand in windy spots or too high places. The wind is especially strong on the cliff edges and ridges, so don't go to those places."

The injuries sustained from intentionally jumping off a cliff and being suddenly pushed off a cliff are quite different. Doctor Jiang suspects that Xu Zhichun suffered the latter, but it's hard to say without evidence.

He had just subtly inquired, and Xu Zhichun seemed to have completely forgotten what had happened. He guessed that it was probably because he had injured his brain.

She even believed that she had jumped off a cliff to die for her husband.

But Dr. Jiang trusted his own judgment more.

That's all the advice he can offer.

Xu Zhichun felt a slight stirring in his heart. For a moment, he felt as if he had grasped something, but then he realized he hadn't.

She nodded: "Thank you, Dr. Jiang, I'll remember that."

After seeing Doctor Jiang off, everyone else left one after another. Zhang seemed to want to say something, but her uncle pulled her away as well.

Xu Zhichun then had a chance to comfort her brother-in-law, Liang Mingxuan.

This child is ten years old and studies at a private school in the neighboring Quanshan Village. He is exceptionally good at his studies, and he is also handsome with delicate features and a refined, scholarly air. He wears a slightly worn bamboo-green scholar's robe, exuding the air of a learned man. Especially his eyes, clear and bright, seem to contain the brilliance of knowledge. Anyone who sees them would think that this child must be very good at studying and has a bright future!
This almost innate scholarly temperament is something others can only dream of.

Everyone knows that when this child grows up, he will definitely not be an ordinary person, and countless people in the village envy their family.

But now, news of Liang Minglang's death has arrived, Liang Mingxuan has suddenly become an orphan, and Xu Zhichun has become a widow. The days ahead may not be the same.

In the past two years, although my eldest and second uncles' families have managed to gain some small advantages, they haven't dared to go too far. But now, it's hard to say.

Xu Zhichun smiled and patted the edge of the bed, gesturing for Liang Mingxuan to come over.

"Mingxuan, don't worry, I'm here for you. I'll definitely support you to continue your studies, and we'll live the same life from now on. I'm all better now. Will you go to school tomorrow, or will you stay home and rest for a couple more days?"

The news of Liang Minglang's death came five days ago. This child used to have a very good relationship with his older brother. I don't know if he has recovered or not. He is so young and has to endure all this. It is really pitiful. It would be good if he could rest for a few more days.

Liang Mingxuan's eyes reddened, and he suddenly threw himself into Xu Zhichun's arms, hugging her tightly, his small body trembling.

Xu Zhichun sighed inwardly. No matter how smart or academically gifted he was, he was only ten years old and would be afraid. If his sister-in-law died, he would truly be an orphan.

Uncles and aunts? They're all vampires.

Even if the village headman forces him to study, his life won't be easy if he lives with them. All his land and property will inevitably end up in their hands.

If they ruin him and he becomes useless in the future, that's fine. But if he becomes successful, the mere act of filial piety of "raising him" will be enough to keep him firmly under their control for life!

After a long while, Liang Mingxuan said in a hoarse voice, "Sister-in-law, don't die. Don't... leave me."

"No, no, it definitely won't happen again."

"Really?"

"of course it's true."

Seeing that he wasn't in very good condition, Xu Zhichun said, "Why don't you rest at home for a couple of days before going to school?"

Liang Mingxuan was also a little worried about his sister-in-law, so he nodded and said, "Mm."

Xu Zhichun talked to him for a while to comfort him. Aunt Zhuer brewed the medicine and brought it over. Xu Zhichun drank the medicine and soon fell into a deep sleep.

In a daze, she opened her eyes and found herself on a huge harbor dock. The dock was deserted, but there were rows and rows of countless warehouses.

Xu Zhichun casually pushed open the door of a warehouse and went inside. The warehouse was filled with sacks of rice and wheat. Her eyes lit up, and she couldn't resist opening a burlap sack and grabbing a handful of snow-white rice.

With a jolt of consciousness, Xu Zhichun opened her eyes and stared blankly at the rice in her hand.

She looked up and around; she was still lying in the hospital bed.

So what just happened—wasn't a dream?

But what kind of place is that? A port warehouse that belongs to her alone?
Xu Zhichun was overjoyed. In a flash, she returned to the port. She wanted to see what was in the other warehouses.

(End of this chapter)